The U.S. authorized voluntary evacuations of the embassy in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East on Wednesday as tensions with Iran continue to simmer, Breitbart reported. Diplomats, their families, and dependents are headed back to the U.S. as a nuclear deal stalls.
The action primarily affects personnel and their families in Bahrain, while no such order has been issued for the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This is happening as President Donald Trump attempts to broker a deal with Iran over its nuclear capabilities.
The government message was shared to X, formerly Twitter, by news correspondent Daniel Cohen with an ominous message. "Monitoring a potential escalation with Iran. The U.S. has ordered nonessential staff to leave the Baghdad Embassy. Not insignificant..." he wrote.
Monitoring a potential escalation with Iran. The U.S. has ordered nonessential staff to leave the Baghdad Embassy. Not insignificant.
The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain - home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet - says rumors about reduction of staff or a change of posture in any way is… pic.twitter.com/i5VINT6nfk— Daniel Cohen (@DanielCohenTV) June 12, 2025
The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is complicated by Israel's involvement in the situation. The nation is at war with Iranian-backed Hamas and has been the target of ballistic attacks from Iran.
Trump has asked Israel to hold its fire against Iran while the talks continue. However, the president has said the U.S. is prepared to take action against Iran if a deal cannot be reached.
However, Israel has already said that it is ready to proceed with attacks on Iran, whether or not the U.S. is on board, NBC News reported. This could bring the U.S. into the conflict as one of Israel's closest allies, even if there's no involvement.
Israel relies heavily on the U.S. for material and intelligence support for its military operations because of an established understanding. Even if the nation acts unilaterally in this situation, it could bring retaliatory attacks down on Americans in the region.
For this reason, the Defense Department is also allowing the voluntary evacuation of families and dependents of U.S. military personnel stationed in the region. It's clear that the U.S. may be bracing for the inevitable in this precarious situation.
Trump is currently in talks with Iran over its nuclear proliferation program. The president is trying to carefully broker a deal that will halt its progress in gaining nuclear capabilities, according to Fox News.
In a House Armed Services Committee Tuesday, General Michael E. Kurilla said he provided Trump with "a range of options" for Iran. However, the outgoing commander of the U.S. Central Command clarified that he was "in all favor of having a negotiated settlement that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon because of the consequences of conflict," hinting at a military solution.
It appears even Trump is concerned with the lack of progress on these talks. "Iran is acting much differently in negotiations than it did just days ago," the president told Bret Baier on Fox News Tuesday.
"Much more aggressive. It’s surprising to me. It’s disappointing, but we are set to meet again tomorrow – we’ll see."
Trump is doing his best to diffuse the situation with Iran and Israel, but it's a bad sign when evacuations are the order of the day. Still, the president is an expert negotiator and notoriously adverse to active war unless completely necessary.
